*This is a guest review from Janessa of the blog Thrifty Nifty Mommy. All opinions are her own.*

A few weeks ago I received an email letting me know that Disney was releasing Peter Pan: Return to Never Land on Blu-ray/DVD Combo pack. I've always thought that I was a big Disney enthusiast, but I had never heard of this title. I couldn't' wait to have a movie night with my Maggie to watch it! In case you are like me and have not yet heard of this title, let me share the synopsis with you:

Synopsis:

Let your imagination soar as your favorite characters from Peter Pan, Disney's classic adventure, return to Never Land! Now, for the first time through the magic of Blu-ray, experiences all the thrilling action with digitally restored picture and spine-tingling high-definition sound!

Wendy's very practical and no-nonsense daughter, Jane, begins the adventure of a lifetime when the infamous Captain Hook whisks her away to the enchanted island of Never Land. It's up to Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and the Lost Boys to help Jane believe in faith, trust, and pixie dust. With the first-ever Lost Girl at his side, will Peter Pan finally defeat Hook and his swashbuckling band of pirates?

Share the power of believing with your family in Return to Never Land --no more spectacular than ever on Disney Blu-ray!

What We Thought:

It's not secret that we are big Disney fans around here. My Maggie just loves to watch Disney movies and generally, those are animated movies that I enjoy watching with her as well. One of her favorites lately has been Peter Pan, thanks to Jake and the Never Land Pirates on Disney Junior AND getting to meet some of the Pet Pan characters at Disney World! She loved seeing this movie and finding out what happen next in Never Land.

We have had this movie for just 10 days now (it was sent to us free of charge, in exchange for our honest review) and Maggie has already watched it 3 different times. She LOVES it, and so do I! It is animated in a similar style to the original Disney Peter Pan movie, and I really appreciated that. I don't want to give the whole story away, but I'll share a little bit. In this sequel, Jane, Wendy's daughter, is the main focus. She is practical and wants to leave "childish" things behind. She doesn't believe in Never Land or pixies like Tinkerbell until Captain Hook kidnaps her and brings her into his world. In order to defeat Captain Hook, she's going to have to embrace the world that for so long she denied. If you want to find out the rest, well, you gotta buy the movie!

We love this movie and highly recommend. If you're a Disney classics fan, it is a must-see!

Buy It: This Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy Combo pack is available wherever you buy movies. I just saw some at our local Walmart a few days ago. The suggested price is $36.99.

Win It: One lucky reader will win Peter pan: Return to Never Land on Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy Combo Pack.

Carseat Canopy is sponsoring this 15-piece gift set retailing at over $250!

Included in this great country wicker basket is a set of mommy and baby products from many of their sister brands. In it, you will find:

a Carseat Canopy Whole Caboodle

one Nursing Pillow

one Seven Sling

one Udder Cover

one pair of Baby Leggings

three Milk Bands

Four pairs of Breast Pads

If you’re the selected winner of the contest you have limitless options of styles for each of these products. By visiting each brand’s website, you will be able to select the perfect size, pattern, and even texture to showcase you and your baby’s personality!

Also, by liking the Carseat Canopy Facebook page — along with their sister brands’ pages — you will have the opportunity to take part in the amazing giveaways they do every so often! You can find these pages by visiting Facebook.com and using a slash followed by the brand name as the URL; e.g., Facebook.com/carseatcanopy.

A little about Carseat Canopy: Their goal is to provide every parent with a high quality, sleek and stylish infant car seat canopy. With a variety of prints from retro to elegant accompanied with our cuddly minky fabrics, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect car seat canopy for the perfect motherhood experience!

CHECK IT OUT: Visit www.carseatcanopy.com and use code: THRIFTYNIFTY for a FREE Carseat Canopy or $50 off a Whole Caboodle at checkout. Remember, choosing optional custom embroidery adds an additional $6.95 to the price.One lucky reader is going to win the prize package described above.

If you'd like a chance to win, just enter using the easy Giveaway Tools entry form below. Open to US only. Ends 9/10 at 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Preparing meals at my house can be chaotic sometimes, trying to keep an eye on two children while prepping, cooking or baking is more challenging some days than others. I love to keep recipes simple & keep prep time down to a minimal. Well ya'll know how much I adore Brylane Home & with back to school here, they came to my rescue with the Ninja Professional Blender & Single Serve!

The Ninja Professional Blender is so much more than just a "traditional" blender, from blending healthy breakfast smoothies to chopping & grinding ingredients, this blender will quickly become your favorite & go-to kitchen appliance!

I was so excited when my Ninja Professional Blender arrived, I opened the box & was surprised & thankful that there wasn't a million pieces to put together. Inside the box I found a 72 oz pitcher with stacked 6-blade Ninja technology as well as two 16 oz single serve cups with to-go lids. Not only is the blender BPA-Free, it's dishwasher safe which makes clean up a breeze! With 1100 watts & four different speed options including a single-serve option, you will be amazed at what this baby can do!

Back to school mornings are the busiest around here & I need something quick, easy & healthy. So I grabbed a cup of ice, milk, a banana & yogurt & tossed it all in the single serving cup, screwed on the lid with a single serve blade, turned it upside down & attached it to the motor base. The cup locks in place upside down, just turn the Ninja on & within just a few seconds, I have a perfect smoothie! Turn the single serve cup to unlock it from the base, than just switch out your lids to the to-go lid & enjoy!

I am over the moon impressed & in love with the Ninja Blender! This thing has been amazing to have in my kitchen, this will really come in handy with pureeing & chopping my children's food. The blender is just as easy to use as the single serve cups, the measurements on the side are so helpful, the lid locks in place as well.

So what would you make with this no hassle, convenient & powerful Ninja Professional Blender? Feel free to leave me some ideas or recipes, I have been using this daily & would love to try something new!

You can purchase the Ninja Professional Blender online at Byrlane Home & it's currently on sale for $139.99! Stay connected with Brylane Home on Facebook & Twitter!

August is almost over, but we still have a few giveaways for you in the Livin' The Green Life event! You can see all of the current giveaways in this event, here!

Today, I am happy to share with you an organic baby line of personal care products that was formulated by Mother Nature, Nature's Baby Organics. At Nature's Baby Organics they create shampoo, conditioner's, moisturizers & more that are gentle enough for babies yet beneficial for older children, even great for parents to use!

My daughter loves the Tangy Tangerine Bubble Bath & I think it's her favorite item, it has a wonderful scent but it's not strong which is nice. I've used the shampoo & conditioner on both of my children's hair, it rinses out easily & leaves their hair so smooth! The moisturizer is great for day or night time & leaves their skin so soft, I really love our new Nature's Baby Organics products & I can't wait to try out more items from their organic line!

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

My family loves breakfast food, pancakes or waffles on a Saturday morning is the perfect way to start off the weekend! Well pancakes have changed over the years, from adding fruit even chocolate chips into the mix & now thanks to The Buttermilk Truck, I am trying Red Velvet pancake mix for the first time!

I love Red Velvet cupcakes & cake so I couldn't wait to try out The Buttermilk Truck's Red Velvet pancake mix! The Buttermilk Truck started out in 2009 on the streets of Los Angeles, providing people the most important meal of the day, including pancakes, donuts, waffles & more!

The Red Velvet pancake mix takes a few simple ingredients like an egg, buttermilk, oil & optional cider vinegar. I decided to hand mix this batch instead of using my mixer & it turned out nice & smooth, but I wasn't done yet, I sprinkled in a few mini chocolate chips!

So turn on your stove & cook your Red Velvet pancakes like you would any other pancakes! However, I will tell you, mine always turn out a little darker, & I think the chocolate chips darkened these a little as well.

Boy oh boy where these delicious, my children were eating these as fast as I could take them out of the pan! Thankfully I grabbed a few bites while they were stuffing their faces, I really enjoyed them & can't wait to make them again!

I managed to grab a quick photo of Little Sister C before she left the table, she ate two Red Velvet pancakes & she's already asking when we can make cupcakes with The Buttermilk Truck mix!

Viva Veltoro had the opportunity to review the Graco Smart Seat with Safety Surround Protection,

valued at $339.99. This looks like a great car seat for your growing baby, check out her review of this fantastic all-in-one car seat HERE.

Here is a little information about the Smart Seat with Safety Surround Protection from Graco:

The Graco® Smart Seat™ All-in-One car seat is the ultimate in car seat longevity and has the only side impact protection properly positioned to protect your child at each stage. This convertible car seat fits your child from 4-100 lbs, features Safety Surround™ Side Impact Technology, and Smart Base™ a convenient stay-in-car base so you only have to install the base one time! Additional features you'll love include, seat-to-base locking indicators, 5-position recline, flip up arm rests, integrated cup holder and a 6-position adjustable headrest with no re-thread harness.

Side Impact Tested* (*In addition to meeting or exceeding all applicable US safety standards, the SmartSeat™ car seat has been side impact tested for occupant retention with the built-in 5 point harness system and with a standard vehicle harness system when in high back booster mode. Please consult your vehicle's owner's manual for more specific information on the performance of your vehicle's safety belt system.)

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for hosting this giveaway. The participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. If your company would like to be featured in a giveaway event like this please contact Viva Veltoro.

Having a smartphone means using apps, from social media apps to shopping apps, I really think the saying "there is an app for everything" is true! What if I told you there was an app that allows you to make free phone calls?

Vonage Mobile has an app to download, thanks to Vonage calling your friends or family domestically or internationally is not only easy, it's free! If you don't have an iPhone or Android you can use an iPod touch to download the Vonage Mobile app & then simply connect to Wi-Fi!

So do I have your attention yet? Vonage Mobile is a free app & can be downloaded from iTunes & Google Play, you can share photo's, make video phone calls, send voice notes via text & even use location mapping.

Save money on your current mobile plan, with Vonage you will never have to pay to call a friend or family member living in another country again! It uses your existing phone number & syncs it with your phone book, then just check your contacts to see who has Vonage Mobile, pretty simple right!?

Have you heard of Vonage before? What features are you most excited about?

Buy It: You can purchase Vonage online or at retailers like Kmart, Best Buy, Walmart & more!

(I am a member of the Thrifty Nifty Mommy Blogger Network by Janessa at Thrifty Nifty Mommy. Vonage provided product for this review and giveaway. My review is an honest opinion based on my own experience and has not been reviewed or edited by Vonage)

valued at $199. You can check out her review HERE. This would be a great stroller for trips to the mall or to travel with!

Here is a little information about the Tour from the Mamas & Papas website:

The Tour umbrella stroller is stylish, practical, comfortable and ideal for vacations and days out. Tour has a soft padded seat and reversible liner with a multi-position adjustable back and leg rest to allow your little one to enjoy the journey in comfort, whilst the canopy has a peek a boo window allowing you to check your baby is resting comfortably.

A protective canopy and a rain cover have been added so that you have everything you need to keep your baby comfortable in any weather, with a shopping basket to help keep your hands free while you’re out and about. .

The Tour lightweight stroller comes with a carry handle to make transportation easy, the umbrella folding design means that it is easy to place in and out of the trunk and a reversible stroller liner for added comfort. If you are looking for an everyday, long lasting stroller which is ideal for daily usage, then Tour has everything you need with great value for money. Suitable from 6 months to approximately 50lbs.

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for hosting this giveaway. The participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. If your company would like to be featured in a giveaway event like this please contact Thrifty Nifty Mommy.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Moving into a new home means decorating, painting, hanging up family photos & covering up the empty & plain walls! We love to use wall decals & stickers around our home, they are easy, fun & are the perfect addition to any room!

I was recently introduced to RoomMates, a company that creates fun, festive & chic wall decals, wallpaper, borders & even murals for the entire home. At RoomMates you will find your favorite childrens characters like Toy Story, Finding Nemo as well a variety of quotes, kitchen-themed decals & more! With RoomMates wall decals, you can give any room a new look with out breaking the bank & hassling with traditional decorating options!

After browsing RoomMates wide selection of wall decals, I noticed they also had chalkboard & dry erase decals available. I've always loved the idea of having a chalkboard surface to write meals, shopping lists or to-do lists on in my kitchen. So, I decided on the pink apple chalkboard wall decal & since my kitchen walls aren't finished yet-I still have to texture & paint them, guess where my new wall decal went? On the side of my fridge, yep, it was the perfect place for it & we walk pass it a dozen times a day so I was sure that it would get seen!

When my package arrived, it took just seconds for me to open up & get to work. The decals are all nicely placed on one sheet, just peel them off & apply them to your surface, in my case the side of the fridge. Smooth out your decal & your done, it was super easy to do, then just grab your chalk & have fun!

Chalkboard is so much fun! What are some of your favorite items at RoomMates? I think their custom made wall decals & growth charts are pretty cool! Stay connected with RoomMates on Facebook & Twitter!

5 weeks down, wow, I can't believe I've been on this weight loss journey for 5 weeks. My brother has also been gone for 5 weeks, I did get a letter from him last week & I am still writing him at-least once a week. He's doing great & even got promoted to Guide, so happy to see he's staying positive & hanging in there.

I am on day 19 of squat challenge, 160 squats today. Most mornings my legs feel like jello but it's worth it!

I am down into the 140's, so I am feeling great & super excited. I need to measure myself in inches I just keep forgetting.

I did have to remind myself today when I was exhausted & sore that it's a weight loss journey, it won't happen over night & it's a life style change not a temporary phase.

The heat isn't helping & i'm ready for cooler temps, going to be in the 100's this week so I'm going to try to work out in the mornings after I take my son to school.

I've also been drinking 6-8 bottles of water or more a day, my body is loving it!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

I had the opportunity to review for Little Love Buns about a year ago. You can read my review by clicking here. At Little Love Buns, you'll find cloth diaper detergent, regular clothing detergent, wipe bits, pail powder, and more!

One lucky reader is going to win a great prize from Little Love Buns containing a Large Bag of Cloth Diaper Detergent and a Large Bag of Laundry Detergent! Retail value is $30!

Welcome!

Hi y'all! I'm Jessica - welcome to my lifestyle blog where you will find a little bit of everything. I’m so glad you stopped by because I have a ton to share with you! Feel free to connect with me on social media as well!